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Conservative leadership race: Who's in, who's out, and who’s still thinking it over

Ten potential leaders have declared their bids already, with Quebec MP Steven Blaney the latest to announce his campaign.

Conservative MP Steven Blaney waves to supporters at a Conservative Party brunch, Sunday, October 23, 2016 in Levis Que. Blaney announced his decision to run for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party. (Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

By The Canadian Press

Sun., Oct. 23, 2016

OTTAWA—Quebec MP and former public safety minister Steven Blaney is the latest to join the Conservative leadership race after launching his campaign Sunday.

Here is the list of who else is in, who is leaning towards it and who is out.

Declared:

Erin O’Toole, Ontario MP and former veterans affairs minister.

Kellie Leitch. The pediatric orthopedic surgeon, first elected as an MP in 2011, was the first to file her paperwork in April.

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Leadership candidate Kelli Leitch, MP for the riding of Simcoe-Grey, talks with reporters at the national Conservative summer caucus retreat in Halifax on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (Andrew Vaughan)

Maxime Bernier. The Quebec MP and former cabinet minister registered a few days after Leitch and has already outlined several key policy positions.

Andrew Scheer. The former Speaker of the House of Commons launched his campaign at the end of September.

Michael Chong. The Ontario MP is a longtime champion of democratic reform.

Deepak Obhrai. One of the longest-serving Conservative MPs, he registered last month after telling his caucus colleagues this summer he planned to join the race.

Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai stands in the House of Commons during question period in Ottawa on May 30, 2014. (FRED CHARTRAND)

Brad Trost. The social-conservative Saskatchewan MP first declared his interest in running for the top job after the party dropped a policy widely seen as opposing same-sex marriage at its convention in May.

Andrew Saxton. A defeated Vancouver-area MP.

Pierre Lemieux. A former Quebec MP also defeated in the last election.

Still working on it:

Lisa Raitt. The former cabinet minister and current MP from the Greater Toronto Area stepped down from her role as finance critic Friday.

Chris Alexander. The former immigration minister, who lost his seat in the 2015 election, has made it clear in media reports he intends to run.

Former Immigration Minister Chris Alexander answers a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, May 25, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick)

Kevin O’Leary. The popular TV personality and businessman first mused about running for the leadership earlier this year, but also said he is in no rush to make up his mind.

Dan Lindsay. The former president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba formed a committee in the spring to explore a possible campaign.

Out:

Tony Clement. The former cabinet minister dropped out of the leadership race this week, saying he did not want to expose his family to financial risk after his campaign fell short of fundraising goals he set when he launched his bid in July.

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